Experimental investigation of magnetic forces in PMA and HTS configurations using a high-speed electrodynamic levitation test system

This study presents a comparative experimental investigation of magnetic force parameters in high-speed electrodynamic levitation systems using permanent magnet arrays and high-temperature superconductors. A novel modular test platform with a rotating aluminium rail, cryostat, and integrated three-axis force measurement unit was employed to evaluate levitation and drag forces under controlled conditions at linear velocities up to 280 km/h. Three different permanent magnet arrays configurations were designed and tested at working gaps of 10, 12, and 15 mm, while high-temperature superconductors bulks fabricated from YBCO by the top-seed-melt-growth method were tested at 10 and 12 mm gaps. The experimental results demonstrated that permanent magnet arrays configurations produced higher levitation forces, with a maximum of 100 N at working gap of 10 mm. High-temperature superconductors bulks, in contrast, generated lower levitation forces (maximum 17 N at 10 mm) due to limited trapped flux (∼0.25 T) but showed the advantage of substantially reduced drag forces (3.5 N at 10 mm). A lift-to-drag ratio analysis confirmed the trade-off between force generation and energy losses in permanent magnet arrays systems, while highlighting the efficiency potential of high-temperature superconductors-based levitation. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for the engineering development of high-temperature superconductors-based Maglev technologies, emphasizing their potential importance in future transportation systems.